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Reverend Mother Mystery #2
A Shocking Assassination
Reverend Mother Aquinas is asked to prove a young man s innocence in the second of this atmospheric new Irish historical mystery series. "
"Ireland. 1924." Reverend Mother Aquinas is buying buttered eggs in the Cork city market at the very moment when the city engineer, James Doyle, is assassinated. Although no one saw the actual killing, a young reporter named Sam O Mahoney is found standing close to the body, a pistol in his hand, and is arrested and charged.
Following a desperate appeal from Sam s mother, convinced of her son s innocence, the Reverend Mother investigates and, in this turbulent, war-torn city, uncovers several other key suspects. Could there be a Republican connection? Was James Doyle s death linked to his corrupt practices in the rebuilding of the city, burned down more than a year ago by the Black and Tans? Cork is a city divided by wealth and by politics: this murder seems to have links to both.
"Ireland. 1924." Reverend Mother Aquinas is buying buttered eggs in the Cork city market at the very moment when the city engineer, James Doyle, is assassinated. Although no one saw the actual killing, a young reporter named Sam O Mahoney is found standing close to the body, a pistol in his hand, and is arrested and charged.
Following a desperate appeal from Sam s mother, convinced of her son s innocence, the Reverend Mother investigates and, in this turbulent, war-torn city, uncovers several other key suspects. Could there be a Republican connection? Was James Doyle s death linked to his corrupt practices in the rebuilding of the city, burned down more than a year ago by the Black and Tans? Cork is a city divided by wealth and by politics: this murder seems to have links to both.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2016
76 people are currently reading
199 people want to read
About the author
Cora Harrison
92 books219 followersCora Harrison worked as a headteacher before she decided to write her first novel. She has since published twenty-six children's novels. My Lady Judge was her first book in a Celtic historical crime series for adults that introduces Mara, Brehon of the Burren. Cora lives on a farm near the Burren in the west of Ireland.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
March 21, 2018
Ireland 1925, difficult times economically, political unrest, survival instincts of the general population encumber the investigation of a murder of a city official in the midst of a busy market.
The Reverend Mother of this series has known the featured adults from childhood when they were her pupils, and her participation in discovering who murdered the city engineer is extremely staid, almost sleep inducing for me.
Portrayal of conditions in Cork are of interest to me, so time will tell if I read the other books I checked out. Fortunately they are in another location so I won't make that decision until the weekend. No hurry! The calendar may say Spring but it is cold, and I just cover up and read like mad.
The Reverend Mother of this series has known the featured adults from childhood when they were her pupils, and her participation in discovering who murdered the city engineer is extremely staid, almost sleep inducing for me.
Portrayal of conditions in Cork are of interest to me, so time will tell if I read the other books I checked out. Fortunately they are in another location so I won't make that decision until the weekend. No hurry! The calendar may say Spring but it is cold, and I just cover up and read like mad.
July 22, 2017
Although the background information is interesting, I found this novel somewhat boring. The characters are all flat and the plot itself is flat. There are just too many consultations between the Reverend Mother and her informants.
December 29, 2018
This thrilling mystery is the 2nd part of the Irish mystery series featuring the "Reverend Mother Aquinas".
The setting of this series is in Cork, Ireland, and a nice touch and insight is that the author's parents themselves are from Cork and from the 1920s, and so their tales of life and events in Cork are forming the foundations of the stories of this series, while also the author's own recollections from Cork of the 1940s and 1950s are taking some part in this very fine series.
The book contains quotes from Thomas Aquinas, William Butler Yeats, while also the writings of Allan Ellis, former journalist of the Cork Examiner and the father of Peter Beresford Ellis (Author Peter Tremayne) are featuring at the beginning of some chapters, while the author also made quite some research about Cork and its burning down by consulting historical books.
The story itself starts in the Month of April of the Year 1923, and it is here where our Reverend Mother Aquinas will enter another chapter of Cork where violence, freedom, murder and death are an everyday occurrence.
It really starts off right at the beginning when Reverend Mother Aquinas is buying buttered eggs in Cork's English City Market when all of a sudden the city engineer, James Doyle, is assassinated, and standing close by and with pistol in hand is the young former reporter of the Cork Examiner Sam O'Mahoney.
After a desperate appeal by Sam's mother, the Reverend Mother Aquinas starts to investigate in her own kind of way, and while doing so, and with the help of Inspector Patrick Cashman and Dr Scher, she will uncover different suspects while at the same time she has to face very difficult and dangerous personal situations.
Does this murder have a political Republican connection, or was James Doyle assassinated for his corrupt behaviour in the rebuilding of the city of Cork which was burned down by the Black and Tans some years before, and so he was hated by quite a few men, and in this city so very much divided with dirty politics, could this burning down have been the spark to commit this heinous crime, and thus after quite a few twists and turns the culprit of this murder will finally in a subtle way be exposed by the Reverend Mother Aquinas.
Very much recommended, for this series deserves much more credit, and that's why I call this book, "A Very Exciting Irish Murder Sequel"!
The setting of this series is in Cork, Ireland, and a nice touch and insight is that the author's parents themselves are from Cork and from the 1920s, and so their tales of life and events in Cork are forming the foundations of the stories of this series, while also the author's own recollections from Cork of the 1940s and 1950s are taking some part in this very fine series.
The book contains quotes from Thomas Aquinas, William Butler Yeats, while also the writings of Allan Ellis, former journalist of the Cork Examiner and the father of Peter Beresford Ellis (Author Peter Tremayne) are featuring at the beginning of some chapters, while the author also made quite some research about Cork and its burning down by consulting historical books.
The story itself starts in the Month of April of the Year 1923, and it is here where our Reverend Mother Aquinas will enter another chapter of Cork where violence, freedom, murder and death are an everyday occurrence.
It really starts off right at the beginning when Reverend Mother Aquinas is buying buttered eggs in Cork's English City Market when all of a sudden the city engineer, James Doyle, is assassinated, and standing close by and with pistol in hand is the young former reporter of the Cork Examiner Sam O'Mahoney.
After a desperate appeal by Sam's mother, the Reverend Mother Aquinas starts to investigate in her own kind of way, and while doing so, and with the help of Inspector Patrick Cashman and Dr Scher, she will uncover different suspects while at the same time she has to face very difficult and dangerous personal situations.
Does this murder have a political Republican connection, or was James Doyle assassinated for his corrupt behaviour in the rebuilding of the city of Cork which was burned down by the Black and Tans some years before, and so he was hated by quite a few men, and in this city so very much divided with dirty politics, could this burning down have been the spark to commit this heinous crime, and thus after quite a few twists and turns the culprit of this murder will finally in a subtle way be exposed by the Reverend Mother Aquinas.
Very much recommended, for this series deserves much more credit, and that's why I call this book, "A Very Exciting Irish Murder Sequel"!
February 27, 2017
Ireland in the time of "The Troubles" - it is only 8 years after the Easter Rising (1916) and 2 years after the formation of the Irish Free State after the bloody Irish Civil War (1922 - 1923). The economy has suffered, nationalist factions are still prevalent and the border boundary is still a hot issue.
In Cork City, a city engineer is murdered in a market - a young man stands with gun in hand. Guilty or innocent - his mother tasks Rev. Mother Aquinas to prove her son's innocence. Former pupil now Police Inspector Patrick Cashman sets out to investigate.
So, why three stars? Yes it is a clever plot that does leave you guessing till the end but it was a bit too drawn out for my liking and certain "events" were not quite believable (for myself, a student of this period of history). Added to that was my lack of empathy for one of the female characters (I really wanted to slap her).
I would probably go back and find the first book in this series - reading the first book may have assisted me and getting a line on the main characters.
In Cork City, a city engineer is murdered in a market - a young man stands with gun in hand. Guilty or innocent - his mother tasks Rev. Mother Aquinas to prove her son's innocence. Former pupil now Police Inspector Patrick Cashman sets out to investigate.
So, why three stars? Yes it is a clever plot that does leave you guessing till the end but it was a bit too drawn out for my liking and certain "events" were not quite believable (for myself, a student of this period of history). Added to that was my lack of empathy for one of the female characters (I really wanted to slap her).
I would probably go back and find the first book in this series - reading the first book may have assisted me and getting a line on the main characters.
February 28, 2023
The Reverend Mother Mystery series is quite wonderful, largely because of the attractive lead character, the Reverend Mother. Who knew that an Irish Catholic nun in the 1920s could be so kind and open-minded? It also gives a great portrait of Ireland at that time and the city of Cork in particular. I liked the second book even better than the first.
October 25, 2016
Although it is never a good idea to learn history from fiction, one of the many gifts of historically-based fiction is its ability to inspire curiosity about a past time or place and to evoke a sense of that world and its people. I knew only a ghost of a smidgeon about modern Irish history, but this mystery quickly drew me into the time, its tensions and disasters. The strife between various factions is not only background, but an integral part of the murder – or is it an assassination? – that sets everything in motion. Exceptionally well-drawn characters, a rich setting teeming with possible motives, twists I did not see coming, and a satisfying if heart-wrenching ending made this mystery set in 1924 Ireland a great read.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
May 27, 2016
A simple read not too demanding I do like the character of the Reverend Mother. Moreover the book does not shy away from the social problems of Cork during the Irish civil war in which this book is set.It also shows us the continuing effect the war of independence had on the town .
April 17, 2023
Third in the series and I have no real complaints. The only thing is,I'm noticing that the author is a little word-heavy. Didn't I notice this in the first two books? I don't think so, but I'll check my reviews to see.
Story-wise, I didn't find it exactly shocking, probably because I've read so many murder mysteries before and can no longer be shocked by fictional murders (by just this weekend I've discovered that I'm easily shocked by the real thing, after listening to the local newscast)
However, it was an interesting story and I didn't guess who the culprit was, even as it was being revealed. And the murderer was indeed shocking, for several reasons that I'll not list here; sorry, no spoilers from me.
As a bonus, while reading these tales I'm learning some history that, apparently, I know nothing about, which is about early twentieth century Irish history played out in the city of Cork in the 1920's.
That alone is worth reading the book, and a challenging mystery just makes the adventure that much sweeter!
So I'm giving it two thumbs up and four stars, taking off one star for being just a little bit wordy. And actually, after some thought, perhaps all the words were necessary to develop the plot; what do I know, I'm just a reader, not a writer!
Story-wise, I didn't find it exactly shocking, probably because I've read so many murder mysteries before and can no longer be shocked by fictional murders (by just this weekend I've discovered that I'm easily shocked by the real thing, after listening to the local newscast)
However, it was an interesting story and I didn't guess who the culprit was, even as it was being revealed. And the murderer was indeed shocking, for several reasons that I'll not list here; sorry, no spoilers from me.
As a bonus, while reading these tales I'm learning some history that, apparently, I know nothing about, which is about early twentieth century Irish history played out in the city of Cork in the 1920's.
That alone is worth reading the book, and a challenging mystery just makes the adventure that much sweeter!
So I'm giving it two thumbs up and four stars, taking off one star for being just a little bit wordy. And actually, after some thought, perhaps all the words were necessary to develop the plot; what do I know, I'm just a reader, not a writer!
January 8, 2023
Another EXCELLENT "Reverend Mother" mystery (second in the series). Set in Cork, Ireland in 1923 this follows the assassination of James Doyle, city engineer. Was he killed by the Republicans? By one of his coworkers (the town planner, etc.), who had a great deal to gain by his death? Why would the young man arrested for the crime, who was seen with the gun in his hand, do this? Or was he set up? Once again, the Reverend Mother, Inspector Patrick Cashman (one of the Reverend Mother's best students), and Dr. Scher work to exonerate the young man arrested. But the ending is not what you think!! Cora Harrison recreates 1920's Cork, Ireland with spare but descriptive prose, allowing the reader to feel the almost constant fog and rain; the incredible poverty; the huge gulf between poor and upper-class. (And the print is larger, making for fast and easy reading). This is a series similar, in some respects, to Charles Todd's Inspector Rutledge series, where it's after World War I and there's a darkness (literally and figuratively) throughout the book. Quick read - and I never saw the ending coming!
November 28, 2021
This is my first Cora Harrison novel, and I found it an enjoyable experience. Set in the 1920s, a short time after The Troubles, this novel does not shy away from the political, social, and economic hardships and divisions that existed at the time. Through the Reverend Mother's eyes we are given a window into an interesting period of history.
The author does a wonderful job with the Reverend Mother's point of view. She's gentle, but firm, and she even has a slight cynicism about Ireland and the people Cork that provides a touch of gentle dry wit through the story. There is much to like about this character, as with much of the supporting cast.
I appreciated that the story had chapters devoted to other character points of view, as it's often the case that similar novels concentrate on the protagonist. It allowed for the period to really take life on the pages, as we saw the motivations and the struggles of the people of Cork.
I'll be reading more of Cora Harrison, that's for sure!
The author does a wonderful job with the Reverend Mother's point of view. She's gentle, but firm, and she even has a slight cynicism about Ireland and the people Cork that provides a touch of gentle dry wit through the story. There is much to like about this character, as with much of the supporting cast.
I appreciated that the story had chapters devoted to other character points of view, as it's often the case that similar novels concentrate on the protagonist. It allowed for the period to really take life on the pages, as we saw the motivations and the struggles of the people of Cork.
I'll be reading more of Cora Harrison, that's for sure!
June 4, 2019
In December 1920 British forces burned much of the city center of Cork. In this story, the British government has accepted responsibility for the atrocity and paid damages to the city, However, instead of rebuilding homes and businesses, the city officials plan on spending the money on a grandiose new city hall. So when corrupt city engineer James Doyle is shot in front of dozens of witnesses, including Reverend Mother Thomas Aquinas, it is hardly shocking. The recreation of Cork in the 1920s is compelling but I found the plot rather dull and, in the end, not believable.
January 27, 2021
Reverend Mother Aquinas, Dr. Scher and Inspector Patrick Cashman made for an interesting detecting trio but I felt the identity of the murderer came out of nowhere. I like there to be some solid clues leading up to the big reveal in murder mysteries. I like this series because it gives a good sense of the politically divided communities in Ireland with the underground Republican/Black and Tan movement.
October 10, 2023
This story left me wondering, what are buttered eggs??? or drishreen???
I enjoyed book two of this series, with Reverend Mother Aquinas and her crew.
She witnesses an assassination of the Cork City Engineer, Jamed Doyle, who was derelict in his duties of replacing the facilities that were burned down two years ago, leaving people without homes and businesses.
I loved the variety of suspects, and the surprise killer.
I borrowed a copy from the public library.
I enjoyed book two of this series, with Reverend Mother Aquinas and her crew.
She witnesses an assassination of the Cork City Engineer, Jamed Doyle, who was derelict in his duties of replacing the facilities that were burned down two years ago, leaving people without homes and businesses.
I loved the variety of suspects, and the surprise killer.
I borrowed a copy from the public library.
February 27, 2018
What an excellent series this is turning out to be! The characters are so interesting. I'm glad to "know" them. This one had me on the edge of my seat more than once. I especially like the setting -- Ireland in the 1920s. Just as in her 16th century Mara the Brehon series, Ms Harrison knows her history and readers learn a lot while being well-entertained by her terrific writing.
March 16, 2019
Second historical mystery set in 1923 in Cork in Ireland, featuring Reverend Mother Aquinas. Interesting to read about an era that continued into the late 20th century, & that featured considerably in many conversations when I visited Ireland 2 years ago.
I've requested the next book in the series. I realize I have read a number of the books in the author's other series, which is of much more distant historical interest and features a strong female judge.
I've requested the next book in the series. I realize I have read a number of the books in the author's other series, which is of much more distant historical interest and features a strong female judge.
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August 29, 2020Well, I was certainly surprised at the ending. Harrison gives us a well-researched history of Cork in the 1920's, a careful examination of the hierarchies of power in a small city, and well-defined characters, with flaws and all.
However, the milieu is so poor and starving that it was not enjoyable to read about. And the plot development was a bit lacking.
However, the milieu is so poor and starving that it was not enjoyable to read about. And the plot development was a bit lacking.
July 6, 2022
I was perhaps a little more charmed then I should have been but charmed I was. I liked the main characters and I really enjoyed the historical setting. The mystery well a good puzzle was rather suddenly, though satisfactorily solved. Would I read the next book? Maybe. So should you check this out? Maybe.
May 11, 2017
I enjoyed the main characters, enjoyed all the historical aspects, but the ending did not satisfy me. I keep coming up with questions that haven't been answered as to how the culprit did it without being noticed.
August 16, 2017
A look at Cork, Ireland after independence
An excellent, well-written story of Life in Cork , Ireland in the early 1920s, with believable, interesting characters, that throws an unsentimental light on this period
An excellent, well-written story of Life in Cork , Ireland in the early 1920s, with believable, interesting characters, that throws an unsentimental light on this period
December 8, 2018
Overall, disappointing though not a total loss. The characters are engaging and have potential. The author’s historical knowledge is solid. The story telling needs work. She is a better historian than storyteller.
April 20, 2019
I think it’s just me. This book held very little interest for me, though the author isn’t a bad writer. I didn’t care about the story or much about the characters, jumped to the last two chapters to see how it ended.
June 3, 2019
I found this one a bit of a slog, and I think it had one too many red herrings (one should at least have a ghost of a chance of guessing the killer!). I much preferred the first in the series to this one but will try the next....
December 8, 2019
A corrupt city official is shot at the English Market in 1920s Cork, and a young, former reporter is left to take the blame. The Reverend Mother is on the case. A history lesson wrapped in a murder mystery.
August 20, 2020
This is an absorbing story that keeps you guessing to the very end. And then, be prepared to be surprised! I thought it was a well written mystery, with many possible suspects. The character was believable, motivated to do the crime and consistent in his actions.
April 6, 2018
"Coincidentally," the Reverend Mother shares Mara, Brehon of the Burren's annoying habit of suddenly explaining the mystery's solution in the last chapter.
March 19, 2020
I am glad I started reading this series, I don't know much about Irish history so each book I learn something new and interesting. I look forward to reading the next in the series.
August 11, 2020
Just an ok read....seemed quite confusing...I didn’t even feel like Reverend Mother could have solved this, and then she did...
February 25, 2021
A Very Good Mystery
I have always enjoyed Cora Harrison's writing and she has not disappointed in the writing of this mystery. Lucky for the readers of her work.
I have always enjoyed Cora Harrison's writing and she has not disappointed in the writing of this mystery. Lucky for the readers of her work.
November 8, 2021
Solid 3 stars
This one didn't have the extra concerns of the first book. So I could just enjoy the mystery and the puzzle. Continuing to the next one...
This one didn't have the extra concerns of the first book. So I could just enjoy the mystery and the puzzle. Continuing to the next one...
August 25, 2022
These book are so brilliant! The endings always stump and surprise me! Such a brilliant series this is indeed!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews